Wandy Rodriguez through the years

Wandy Rodriguez has an 6.75 ERA in six starts this season. (Jeffrey Phelps/Getty Images)

The Pirates have designated lefthander Wandy Rodriguez for assignment, the team announced.

The Astros are paying $5.5 million of Rodriguez’ $13 million salary. Houston traded Rodriguez to the Pirates at the trade deadline in 2012.

Rodriguez counts as the third highest paid player on the Astros payroll this year behind pitcher Scott Feldman and outfielder Dexter Fowler.

Rodriguez, 35, had a 6.75 ERA in six starts and 26 2/3 innings this year. He also allowed 10 homers during that time.

He had a 3.59 ERA in 62 2/3 innings just last season, so it seems likely some team will pick him up. The Pirates (and Astros) will still owe him his full salary, but any other team can sign him for the pro-rated portion of the league minimum.

In the trade with Pittsburgh, the Astros acquired outfielder Robbie Grossman, pitcher Colton Cain and pitcher Rudy Owens. Grossman is on the 40-man roster but was sent down to Oklahoma City recently. Cain, a lefthander, is at Class AA Corpus Christi where he has a 4.58 ERA in 17 2/3 innings this year. Owens, also a lefty, is at Class AAA Oklahoma City where he’s 2-3 with a 6.05 ERA.